4-year-old girl killed in Montgomery County following DCS care

Jul. 16, 2013

Written by

Lester Black

Gannett Tennessee

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — A 4-year-old girl was killed in Montgomery County on Friday afternoon, and she had previously been under Department of Children’s Services custody.

Ted Denny, spokesman for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, confirmed that a 4-year-old girl died Friday afternoon on Dotsonville Road, but he could not confirm any additional information before a coroner’s report had been completed.

No charges had been filed as of Tuesday morning, Denny said.

The child, whose name has not been released, had been returned to her parents about six months ago after spending three years in DCS custody, according to a source inside DCS who spoke on the condition of anonymity. That source said the child had been removed from the home due to a traumatic brain injury inflicted by one of the child’s relatives.

Rob Johnson, spokesman for DCS, confirmed that the department has an open investigation on the death but said they were unable to release the case file because of the ongoing investigation.

“We also have had prior contact with the family,” Johnson said in an email.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation, which is still ongoing according to a news release from Jamie Dexter with Sheriff John Fuson’s office, should contact Julie Webb, head investigator for the case, at 931-648-0611, ext. 1267, or Sgt. Mark Wojnarek, 931-648-0611, ext. 1225.

DCS has struggled to provide accurate information on the number of children who died or nearly died after having some contact with the agency, according to multiple reports in The Tennessean. The agency revised those numbers upwards at least five times since September.

The Tennessean and a coalition of media groups filed suit against the agency in December after DCS repeatedly declined to provide records of children who died in its care – ultimately winning the right to portions of each child’s file.

This is a developing story, and more details will be added as they become available.